Resources · Getting started
How to start sourcing your first product
You don’t need a factory contact or a technical drawing to begin. You need a clear picture of what you’re making, who it’s for and what it can sell for. Here’s how to move from idea to first supplier conversations with confidence.
1. Describe the product in plain language
Write a one-page brief: what the product is, what it’s made of (or what you’d like it to feel like), approximate size, colors, and how it will be packaged. Add reference photos of products you admire. Suppliers respond better to a clear brief than a vague idea, and it helps you notice decisions you haven’t made yet.
2. Start with your sales channel and price
Where you sell shapes what you source. Your own website, a marketplace, wholesale and retail stores each have different expectations for packaging, labeling, margin and timing. Work backward from a realistic retail price to the most you can pay per unit once shipping, duties and fees are included.
3. Decide what quantity you can commit to
Most factories have a minimum order quantity (MOQ). Know your comfortable first-order range before you reach out, and be honest about it. Some suppliers will flex for a trial order; others won’t, and that’s useful information early.
4. Research and shortlist suppliers
Look for suppliers who already make products similar to yours, in similar materials and quantities. Shortlist a handful, then ask the same questions of each so you can compare fairly: unit price at different quantities, MOQ, sample cost and timing, production lead time, and payment terms.
5. Sample before you commit
- Expect to pay for samples and their shipping.
- Evaluate quality, finish, measurements and packaging against your brief.
- Write down every change you want, and confirm revisions in writing.
6. Estimate your landed cost
Your estimated landed cost is the unit price plus freight, insurance, duties, customs brokerage and any other fees to get goods to you. Treat it as an estimate: duty rates depend on product classification, which a licensed customs broker should confirm before you order.
7. Negotiate, then put it in writing
Once you have a preferred supplier, agree on price, quantity, specifications, timing and payment terms in a written order. Clarity now prevents costly misunderstandings later.
If you’d like a guide through any of these steps, a sourcing conversation is a focused place to start, or find your starting point. Next: how to compare supplier quotes.